With growing concerns about online privacy, running your own VPN on an IPv6-enabled VPS can give you greater control over your data. Many commercial VPN services log user activity, but a self-hosted VPN ensures complete anonymity and security. This guide will walk you through setting up a privacy-focused VPN using WireGuard or OpenVPN on an IPv6 VPS.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- An IPv6-enabled VPS
- SSH access to your server
- Basic knowledge of Linux commands
Step 1: Update Your System
Ensure your server is up to date before installing any software.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Set Up WireGuard (Recommended for Speed & Security)
WireGuard is a lightweight, modern VPN protocol offering excellent performance and security.
Install WireGuard
sudo apt install wireguard -y
Generate Keys
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey
Configure WireGuard
- Open the configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf - Add the following configuration:
[Interface] Address = fd00::1/64 PrivateKey = YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY ListenPort = 51820 [Peer] PublicKey = YOUR_CLIENT_PUBLIC_KEY AllowedIPs = ::/0 - Enable the WireGuard service:
sudo systemctl enable wg-quick@wg0 sudo systemctl start wg-quick@wg0
Step 3: Set Up OpenVPN (Alternative for Compatibility)
OpenVPN is a well-established VPN protocol with broad support.
Install OpenVPN
sudo apt install openvpn -y
Configure OpenVPN
- Generate server keys:
sudo openvpn --genkey --secret /etc/openvpn/server.key - Edit the OpenVPN configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/openvpn/server.conf - Add the following:
port 1194 proto udp6 dev tun server fd00::1/64 keepalive 10 120 persist-key persist-tun - Enable OpenVPN:
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@server sudo systemctl start openvpn@server
Step 4: Configure Firewall
Ensure your VPN ports are open.
sudo ufw allow 51820/udp # For WireGuard
sudo ufw allow 1194/udp # For OpenVPN
sudo ufw enable
Step 5: Connect Clients
For WireGuard, install the client and add your server details in wg0.conf. For OpenVPN, generate client keys and connect using the .ovpn profile.
Conclusion
Setting up a privacy-focused VPN on an IPv6 VPS ensures you maintain online anonymity without relying on third-party services. WireGuard is recommended for its speed and security, while OpenVPN is useful for broader compatibility.
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